The Sicatoka

... or game day at the Scheel's Arena ticket window.

You've been slackin' there too, hombre.

In all seriousness, what causes suck-factor*? *Suck-ocity? Suckage? Suckiness?

He did ... in Thief River Falls.

MSU-Mankato and Michigan Tech are relevant and in the conversation today. To those schools that is significant.

Mafia has to have some Carlos Santana on the iPod. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Whgn_iE5uc

There has to be more to it than those five things.

How powerful is a logo that meets those five items, plus Mafia's criteria? I can evoke a positive or negative emotion out of just about every sports fan with this link. <-- Folks, that's a powerful sports logo.

And if the logo can't have the unicorn flying and pooping a rainbow I'm out also.

Here are some thoughts on the subject "borrowed" from this website: Distinctive: "Consumers need to be able to recognize a logo. Therefore, a great logo must be distinct, easy to read and understand. ... unique enough to avoid confusion with other companies’ logos." This last part is why I struggle with the interlocked "ND". It's gets confused with "Our Lady of South Bend" too often. Usable: "A good logo must be flexible enough to work in any situation/medium required." The Ben Brien logo was great until you had to try to produce that detail on a two inch or smaller size, say on a hat. Timeless: "To be effective, a logo should stay with the business as it grows. ... A well-designed logo will persevere for years to come." Everyone remember the Buffa-slug Sabres logo? Too trendy. They went back to their timeless logo. Effective without color: "A good logo not only needs to work in black and white, but it should also still be effective. If color is needed to communicate the message then perhaps too much emphasis has been place on it." Not much more to say. Memorable: "Your logo should make a statement about your company. It should be engrained in the consumers brain when think of your industry." Say the old nickname and Ben Brien's artwork probably pops into your mind. We need that kind of logo.

I saw this brought up in another threat. It's a good topic (and maybe someone on some committee will read it). So: What makes a great logo, and what are sure-fire ways to "logo fail".

Are MSU-Mankato (PWR2) and Michigan Tech (PWR5) all that upset about being with the "dregs" in the WCHA right now?

The Saudis hate the %gobc.

Trying to stay factual (and not political): Why is the price of oil going down? Because the Saudis opened the spigot. Why? Because they know Iran needs oil at about $100/bbl to pay their bills. And if Iran has no money Iran doesn't have money to spend on building a nuclear weapon. That's good in the minds of the Saudis. But wait, there's more: The Russians have been helping Iran with the technology for the Iranian nuclear program. Oil under $50/bbl hurts the Russians because the eastern Russian shale oil fields aren't viable with prices under about $70/bbl. Thus the Saudis get a double-bonus out of opening the spigot, flooding the market, and causing the price to fall: hurt Iran, hurt Iran's collaborator Russia. But wait, there's even more! The Saudis view handling Iran (keeping nukes out of Tehran's hands) as an American problem. The Americans haven't been doing that. Thus, although the Saudis know low oil prices hurt the US shale plays, and probably doesn't make American lawmakers that depend on that tax revenue happy, they can live with it because the Saudis really aren't happy with having to deal with what they consider America's problem to deal with (Iran's nuclear ambitions), themselves. You see gas floating between $1.80 and $2.40 a gallon. I see Saudi Arabia afraid of a nuclear Iran and using their lone weapon of (economic) warfare to head it off. (Closing: Note I made no mention of particular politicians or parties, or political views.)

Logo: or

If they stay at seven, that's 24 conference games. If they stay at seven, that's one team looking for non-conference games (or running a bye week) in Jan, Feb, and Mar.

I had to look that Minnesota conference tournament stat up: 2009: Lost to UMD at Final Five 2010: Failed to advance beyond first round (UND) 2011: Failed to advance beyond first round (UAA) 2012: Lost to UND at Final Five 2013: Lost to CC at Final Five 2014: Lost to OSU in Big Ten semifinals

C'mon ... really? Does that include opening round series (in the old WCHA)? <-- EDIT: Gophs have won first/opening round games; but otherwise ... ouch.

I get that; but, I also fear the NCAA will someday either choose to*, or be forced by litigation**, enforce their "policy" as written. Nicknames relating to "race, ethnicity, or national origin" are supposed to be forbidden per the policy. That says Norse, Irish, Vandals, and a host of others should go. *In their quest for everyone to be a color ... "Go Chartreuse!" **By spited, revengeful, folks who feel slighted because the NCAA doesn't "protect" Caucasians.

Ames, Iowa: Iowa State Cyclones Ames High School Cyclones

Can't work. Cortez was a Euro-male who fought good and kind indigenous people (who were infamous for human sacrifice). < shrug >

Teddy coined the phrase "Roosevelt's Rough Riders."

Teddy was a colonel, not a general. And Teddy was probably this State's greatest advocate ever. People who follow his lead and love for North Dakota would probably take on the name he gave to his followers.

Not sayin', jus' sayin' ... http://www.inforum.com/sports/dragons/3700549-no-4-ranked-dragons-advance-central-region-mens-basketball-title-game

In that theory, shouldn't we make the nickname "NDSU" so the NDSU fans can chant ...